The 411 on Your Child's Sprained Ankle

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Ensuring your child is safe, healthy, and happy is a priority when becoming a parent, so you may schedule regular medical and dental checkups for your child. Even with these periodic evaluations, your child may require more care for different illnesses. If your child plays sports, they may require specialized care after an injury during a game or practice. Considering ankle sprains are the most common single injury in high school sports, understanding the signs and treatment options is key to your child's recovery. Using this guide, you will understand how your child sprained their ankle and learn the best techniques for an effective, efficient recovery.

The 411 on Sports-Related Ankle Sprains

Pivoting during a basketball game, twisting while running on the field, or even landing on the foot hard during a track meet can all cause damage to the ankle. Of course, your child does not have to participate in an actual sport to sprain the ankle, since any abnormal movement of the leg, foot, or ankle can result in a sprain. Walking, falling, or a direct injury to the foot may all result in a sprain.

The ligaments of the ankle keep the bone in a proper, stable position, but abnormal movements can weaken and stretch these ligaments, resulting in a sprain.

Symptoms of Ankle Sprains

Pain is the main symptom of an ankle sprain. This pain may begin directly in the ankle and eventually spread through the entire foot and part of the lower leg. In addition, your child may experience the following symptoms after spraining their ankle:

• Tenderness around the  ankle, foot, and lower leg
• Swelling of the ankle and foot
• Bruising around the ankle and foot
• Instability and loss of mobility – Your child may not be able to balance on the leg of the sprained ankle or move the ankle and foot.

Medical Evaluation

It is important to seek immediately medical care after your child's injury. While this may cause you to leave during a game or practice, immediate care is imperative to determine if your child has torn any ligaments.

Doctors will first need to examine the ankle and test your child's movements. This can be uncomfortable for your child and painful for you to watch, but it is important for evaluation and effective treatment.

Your child's doctor will press on and around the ankle to determine which ligament is damaged. In addition, this will allow the doctor to learn the extent of the ligament damage. The range of motion of your child's ankle will also be evaluated. Testing the ankle's mobility will require moving the foot and ankle around, if possible.

If your doctor feels there is a torn ligament or broken bone, further testing may be necessary. X-rays, MRIs, or ultrasounds may be used for further testing.

Treatment

Ankle sprains may range in severity, so treatment will depend on the grade your doctor gives the injury. Most sprains are considered a milder, grade one injury, which can be treated without surgery. If your child was diagnosed with a grade one sprain, R.I.C.E therapy will be necessary for the first 24 to 48 hours after the injury. Here are the steps associated with R.I.C.E:

• Rest – Your child should avoid walking on their ankle, resting it as much as possible.
• Ice – An ice pack should be used periodically each day to reduce swelling. Ice will also numb the pain and discomfort associated with the sprain.
• Compression – The doctor will wrap the injured ankle in compression bandages or wraps to reduce swelling. Compression bandages will also immobilize the ankle, ensuring complete rest.
• Elevation – while resting, your child should prop the sprained ankle on a pillow, elevating it to increase blood circulation and reduce swelling.

If the doctor diagnoses your child with a grade two or three sprain, longer periods of R.I.C.E therapy will be necessary. Also, the doctor may need to splint the ankle, which will completely immobilize the ankle.

Your child's sprain may be frightening, but it is important that you do not panic. Using this guide, you will have a better understanding of this common injury and learn the steps to take for effective treatment of your child's sprain. If your child's foot, ankle or leg is injured, consider visiting a local podiatrist, such as those at Elmhurst Podiatry Center Ltd, to diagnose the issue and receive specialized care.

1 April 2016